"Sticks and stones will break my bones but words can never hurt me!"
I think it is safe to presume that I am not the only one who remembers this little elementary rhyme. Yes, I remember it well. I was often the subject of the ridicule in school, which left me chanting this rhyme fervently back at my insulters as I sought out a quite place away from the harsh scrutiny of peers where I could brood in peace.
Yes, I was the class dork, geek, poor kid, ugly girl, you name it, I was it. BUT this is not about me, although God grants us just enough valleys to build the mountains on. Who would we be if we didn't learn from our past, praise God, and move on? :-)
So, this little rhyme hit me the other day while in prayer and I wasn't sure exactly WHY this was, until today.
While it may have been a good distraction to elementary aged school children, and while it may have saved the teachers a lot of trouble having to mediate between peers, it is totally unbiblical. Not to mention that it didn't work, because, lets face it, word DO hurt. A lot.
Proverbs 18:21 says:
"Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof."
We will get into more verses in a little while, but let's just take that ONE and chew on it for a second.
WOW! To say the least. To go from a teaching of words never hurting to a Scripture verse stating that the tongue holds the power of life and death? That's a big comparison. It leaves me with the haunting question of WHY the tongue holds so much power.
1- A false witness bearing a false report can decide life or death of someone, be it literally or figuratively. In an extreme case, a false witness in court can put a man in prison for the rest of his life, or on death row. In a less extreme case, a false witness among friends, especially those motivated by hurt, defense, and any other selfish cause, can cause death of friendships as friends decide to hang on the word of the false witness.
2- A false prophet can decide life or death of his or her followers by neglecting to teach the Gospel and the death, burial, and resurrection. This causes spiritual death, of course, which is the worst kind. Eternal total separation from God and suffering. Yea, that's pretty bad. Woe to those who lead the sheep astray.
3- Sticks and stones hurt the body, but words slice the soul. This body can heal, and will be no more when the LORD returns or when we died an earthly death, which ever comes first, but the soul will bear the marks of pain forever. They will heal, but scars will always remain, and unfortunately, the scars of the soul never cease to hurt completely like the scars of the flesh.
4- By a WORD a man is convicted, and by a WORD a man is freed.
There is, indeed, much power in the tongue.
"There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health."
Proverbs 12:18 (^above^) offers a bit of encouragement amongst a stern warning. There are people who speak like a piercing sword (I'm sure we all know people of 'sharp words'), BUT the tongue of the WISE is health! Like medicine to a wound? Or even preventative practice? And those words of health are equated to a man of WISDOM!
"A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger." (Proverbs 15:1)
Again, a worthy comparison between the damage of a harsh word versus the restorative power of the wise tongue.
"Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp rasor, working deceitfully." (Psalm 52:2)
Once again, the tongue equated to a sharp instrument, causing harm. Over and over again we see the power of the tongue in doing harm.
You ready for this next one, Body of Christ? It may sting...
"If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain." (James 1:26)
There is it. If ANY member of the body shows and inability (or unwillingness as it is in most cases) to bridle her own tongue, she deceives herself, and her 'religion' is vain.
(vain adj. - characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance. egotistical, self-complacent, vainglorious, proud, arrogant, overweening, self-serving.)
"Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: [and] he that shutteth his lips [is esteemed] a man of understanding." Proverbs 17:28
Even a FOOL who restrains his tongue is considered wise! Does that mean that a wise man who does NOT restrain his tongue is considered foolish? Seems so....
"Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned." Matthew 12:33-37
Our Lord's own Words, what comes out of your mouth is representative of your heart. No more of these "God knows my heart" excuses, Jesus gave us a measuring stick. If you speak lies, deceit, and filth, that IS what is in your heart, like it or not. And, by your WORDS will you be justified, and by your WORDS you will be condemned. Even your IDLE words.
"Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?" James 3:10-11
A word is a hefty thing, and the tongue is a HUGE responsibility.
"With great power comes great responsibility."
God offers many a promise to those who control their tongue:
"For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:" 1 Peter 3:10
"What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good? Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it." Psalm 34:12-14
"Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles." Proverbs 21:23
"Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth." Proverbs 26:20
"In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise." Proverbs 10:19
Yes, dear sisters, I believe that God's Word is True and the final authority on ALL subjects, and I believe that He has spoken completely and specifically on the subject of the tongue.
"Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings," 1 Peter 2:1
"He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends." Proverbs 17:9
"Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers." Ephesians 4:29
Quite simple, really, once you get past the pride of life and the flesh. DON'T gossip, don't spread rumors - be they true or not, don't slander others, and especially don't LIE or STRETCH the TRUTH, for we know that God's Word says in Proverbs 12:22 that "Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight."
I know that we are all prone to temptation, especially us ladies (let's admit it now, hardly ever do men have the troubles like we do with gossip and slander), but it is IMPERATIVE that we continue to restrain ourselves and take it to the Lord, so that God may be glorified in every manner of our speech and actions.
Every time YOU open YOUR mouth, you hold the power of life and death. How you use that power is on you, and everyone WILL receive the reward that they have earned, be it good or bad.
And build each other up, in love, so that we are accountable to each other as well.
Reject not loving correction, because seeking pride will only lead to other sins. Take it to the Lord and into the Scriptures, and ask God to cleanse you, to purify you, and He has promised, He WILL do it.
All for HIS glory.
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